Gas and air mixer.



No. 677,699. Patented July `2^, I90I.

. `G. BAA-P. Y

GAS AND AIR MIXER.

(Application led Nov. 21, 1898.) (un nodal.) a'shms-sheet l.

No. 677,699. Paiented my 2, |901.

G. RAAF.

GAS AND AIR MIXER.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheei 2.

(No Model.)

No. 677,699. Patented my 2,. 196|'. G. RAAF.

.GAS AND IR MIXER.`

(Application med Nov. 21, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

we mams mik; co.. moro-umol. wunmurou. n. c:4

lflNr-Tn GUS'IAV RAAP, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE SELAS GESELL- SCHAFT MIT BESCHRNKTER HAFTUNG, OF SAME PLACE.

GAS AND AIR MIXER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No'. 677,699, dated July 2, 1901-.

' Application filed November 2l, 1898. vSerial No. 696,994. (No model.)

To all whom, it 712,603/ concern:

' Be itknown that I, GUSTAV RAAP, a subject of the German Emperor, residing at Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, have in- Vented new and useful Improvements in Apg tively to operate in unison, and thereby de-l livering a mixture of gasand ordinary air to the dischargepiping.

however, unreliable, especially when the pressure of the gas is comparatively low, since the pressure of the gas is required for driving not only the gas-meter, but alsov the zo air-sucking apparatus, whereby it is apt to be reduced more or less. The proportion of the gas and of the air in the mixture also is not constant, since the level of the liquid in the air-sucking apparatus will vary with the pressure therein.

My invention relates to improvements in said apparatuses; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a device for producing compressed air and for conducting it 3o to the air-sucking apparatus, which serves as an air-m eter, and, second, to provide a device for regulating the work of the above device producing the compressed air, this device being placed under the control ofthe pressure of the gas and air mixture within the discharge or service piping. I attain these objects by the apparatus illustrated in several modes of execution in the Aaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of an apparatus the gas-meter of which is separated from the air-meter, while the compressed air is produced by an air-sucking apparatus of asimilar construction driven from without. Fig. 2is avertical longitudinal section of an apparatus the gas-meter and the airmeter of which are arranged inside a common casing, while the compressed air is produced by a pair of bellows driven by a Weight; and

5o Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of an apparatus the gas-meter and the water-meter Such apparatuses are,-

of which are arranged inside a common cas= ing,while the compressed air is produced by an air-sucking apparatus of similar construction driven by a battery and an electric motor.

"Similar letters refer to si milar parts throughoutthe several figures.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1,' C is the' gas-meter, G the air-meter, and K the airsucking apparatus. These three apparatuses 6o are similar in construction to the common gas-meter and are arranged separately.v The drum c of the gas-meter C and the drum g of the airmeter G are rigidly connected by means of their common shaft d, passing through suitable stuffing-boxes of the two casings c and g'. The air-sucking apparatus K is driven from without by means of a rope placed around the pulley L on the shaft Z of the drum 7c. As in a common gas-meter, both 7o the casing 7e and the chamber t are partly filled with a liquid, (water, glycerin, or the like.) During its revolution the drum 7c draws in air through the sieve 2, located on top of the open chamber t', and through the v75 bent pipe t" and discharges it compressed into the space above the liquid and thence into the chamber n. This chamber may be considered as a store-room for the compressed air and serves, as it is constructed, as an air 8o vessel. From the chambernthe compressed air is conducted by the piping n', the chamber h, and the bent pipe h to the drum g of the air-meter G, which drum will therefore be revolved by the compressed air. The gas is conducted by the piping a, the chamber l), and the pipe Z9 to the drum c of the gas-meter C, which it will likewise revolve. Since the tWo drums c and g are rigidly connected by their shaft d, both the compressed air and the 9o gas under pressure serve to drive the two drums simultaneously. The compressed air conducted from the air-meter G through the pipe e2 and the gas conducted from the gasmeter O through the pipe e' enter the com- 95 mon main piping e, where they mix together before they are conducted farther vto the places of consumption-say to incandescent gas-lamps, such as f, or to motors to be driven or to stoves or other apparatuses, as the case roo may be. To preserve the pressure of the compressed air under any circumstances, a backpressure valve m may be inserted between the chamber n and the casing k'. The two drums c and g of the gas-meter C and ofthe air-meter G, respectively, being coupled are obliged to revolve simultaneously, so that the gas and the compressed air are always mixed in the correctproportion. This proportion of course depends upon the sizes of the two drums c and g, and the pressure in the main discharge-piping e will equally depend upon the pressure of the gas and that of the compressed air conducted to the air-meter. It will be obvious that by regulating the pressure of the compressed air the pressure in the main discharge-piping e may be kept at a certain height. Any failure in the working of the apparatus will therefore be prevented, even when the pressure of the gas drops.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 the drums c and g of the gas-meter C and the air-meter G are arranged inside the common casing c' g. For producing the compressed air the pair of bellows S S is employed, which is driven by the device Q in the following manner: The weight Q9, suspended from the blockpulleys ql qs, exercises through the rope Q6 a pull upon the drum Q5, which transmits its revolution through the bevel-wheels g4 g3, the shaft q, and the friction-wheels q q2 to the shaft r. The crank 'r' on the shaft r will through a slot, link, or other means reciprocate the rod r2 common to the covers of the two bellows S S, whereby the latter are worked. In the position of the various parts shown in Fig. 2 the air has entered the bot tom bellows S through the valve S', so that on the rod r2 going downward the air will be compressed and open the valve s2 to escape through the piping .s3 to the vessel t. At the top bellows S', on the contrary, for the position shown the air previously admitted through the valves s4 into the bellows and compressed has entered the vessel t through the valve S5. For attaining an equal pressure of the compressed air the vessel t is constructed as a bellows, which can be loaded to anydesired degree by suitable weights t2, placed upon it. The compressed air is conducted through the piping n', the chamber h, and the pipe h to the drum g, which it will revolve. By means of the weights t2 bearing down upon the vessel t the advantage is obtained that the air-meter G is always driven by compressed air under a constant pressure. The gas is conducted, as before, through the piping a, the chamber b, and the pipe b to the drum c, which it will revolve. Above the liquid inside the casing c g' the compressed air and the gas leave their respective drums cand g and mix together, whereupon the mixture is conducted through the piping e to the places of consumption. For regulating the work of the apparatus for producing the compressed air the shaft q is in a well-known manner arranged for being shifted from the regulator O, as follows: The chamber o', placed on the casing o' g and in open communication therewith, is at the top closed by a diaphragm o` or a sliding piston. The diaphragm o or piston is loaded with suitable weights o2 to produce the desired pressure in the main dischargepiping e. By means of the rod o3, the leverp, and the rod p the diaphragm 0 (or the piston,

Vif this equivalent is used) is connected with the shifting shaft q. Vhen the consumption of the air and gas mixture increases or decreases, the diaphragm o will be lowered or raised, respectively. Then by the transmis- 4sion described the shaft q, with the frictionwheel q', will be shifted up or down for putting the apparatus producing the compressed air in or out of motion, as may be required. Thereby the supplyof compressed air will be kept proportioned to the requirements. B y alcharged into the service-pipe e. It serves two purposes-viz., first, to insure a uniform pressure under which the combustible mixture is conducted in the service-pipe tothe places of -consumption, and, second, to cause the aircompressor to supplement the store of compressed air in accordance with the consumption of the gas and air mixture. The airfforcing device will be driven only when required. It may be driven as long as the fricy tion-wheel q is above the shaft r and again stopped when the friction-wheel q is in the same line with the shaft r.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 the coustruction of the gas-meter C, the air-meter G, the vessel t, and the regulator O is the same as before, while the apparatus for producing the compressed air, described before, is replaced by an apparatus K, similar to that shown in Fig. l. For driving this apparatus a battery U is employed, which is capable of supplying current to the electric motor V by means of the conducting-wires u u as. The electric motor V will through the worm o, the worm-wheel w, the shaft a', the bevel-wheels yz, and the shaft revolve the drum 7c, which latter draws in air through the sieve f2, located above the open chamber i, and through the pipe i and discharges it compressed into the Space above the liquid and thence through the back-pressure valve m into the vessel t. When the consumption of the air and gas mixture decreases, the diaphragm o will be raised, whereby the lever p is so turned as to bring its arm p2 out of contact with the contact-piece u2, sothat the circuit is broken, whereupon the electric motor V will stop and cease to revolve the drum 7c.

NVith the apparatus in the various modes of execution shown it is essential that a device' be provided for supplying the air-meter G with compressed air. The compressed air may be conducted to the apparatus, as shown IOO IIC.

in Figs. 2 and 3, from a vessel t, storinga certain quantity of it. The apparatus for producing the compressed air may be of any kind, and the manner of introducing the compressed air into the vessel t may be altered to suit the circumstances. Special vessels filled with compressed air independently of the working of the apparatus may be employed. Blastfans, blowers, compressors, or other machines may be employed for producing the compressed air. In case the gas-meter and the air-meter are combined with such a compressed-air-producing apparatus the device for regulating the work of this apparatus or for putting the same in and out of motion may, if employed, be of auykind, accordingr to the construction of the said apparatus. The latter may be driven from any power source, be it water, hydraulic power, steam, electricity, or otherwise. Instead of the so-called wet gas-meter or air-meter, as illustrated, a so-called dry gas-meter or air-meter, respectively, or bellows and the like may be employed. The gas-drum c and the air-drum g, working positively together, may, instead of being coupled by a common shaft, be connected in any other manner. For example, their shafts may be placed parallel to each other and connected by gear-wheels, chainwheels and chain, or pulleys and belt or rope. Instead of the vessel t for regulating the pressure other devices may be employed for the same purpose. The air-meter G being supplied with compressed air instead of air under atmospheric pressure the disadvantage is avoided that the gas alone is charged with the duty of driving the air-meter, which, according to experience, causes a considerable loss in the pressure of the gas, and hence a reduction of the pressure in the main dischargepiping, whereby, for example, in the case of 5 employing the apparatus for feeding incandescent gas-lamps the illuminating power of the latter may be greatly reduced. The supply of the compressed air according to my invention offers the advantage that the compressed air itself will drive the air-meter, so that it is possible, according to the pressure of the compressed air, to save the pressure of the gas from being spent more or less upon the driving of the air-meter. The pressure of the compressed air may even exceed that of the gas and help to drive the gas-metere., the drum, bellows, or other part of the same. Thus it is possible to attain a pressure of any height in the main discharge-piping as may be desired. It is important that the pressure of the gas and air mixture be utilized .for actuating the device governing 'the action of the air-forcing device, as thereby the uniformity of this pressure will be insured under all circumstances, whether the consumption of the mixture be large or small. 'llie air-forcing device may be stopped when it is not required to supplement the store of compressed air during the time of small consumption. On the contrary, if the consumption increases the said governing device will put the air-forcing device into operation to supply compressed air.

The apparatus describedisintended chiefly for illuminating purposes; but it may also be employed for other purposes-for example, for heating purposes, for driving motors, and so on-where a constant mixture of air and gas under a certain pressure is required.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of a gas-feed device and an air-feed device connected to move in unison, each of said devices having an inlet and an outlet independent of those of the other device with an air-forcing device for supplying a current of air to drive said air-feed device, while said gas-feed device is driven by the gas supplied from a gas-main, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination ofagas-feeddeviceand an air-feed device connected to move in unison, with an air-forcing device for supplying a current ot air to the air-feed device,a service-pipe into which both of said devices discharge, and a device controlled by the pressure Within said service-pipe for governing the action of said ai r-forcing device, substantially as set fort-h.

3. The combination with a gas-meter arranged to be connected with agas-main, of an air-meter connected with said gas-meter to move in unison therewith but having an independent inlet, a service-pipe into which both of said meters discharge, and an air-forcing device for supplying a current of air to said air-meter, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, of an air-meter connected with said gas-meter to move in unison therewith, a service-pipe into which both of said meters discharge, an airforcing device for supplying a current of air to said air-meter, and a device controlled by the pressure within said service-pipe, for governing the action of said air-forcing device, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, of an air-meter connected with said gas-meter to move in unison therewith, means for collecting and mixing thegas leaving said gas-meter and the air leaving said air-meter, a service-pipe into which the gas and air mixture vis discharged, an air-forcing device for supplying a current of air to said air-meter, and

a device controlled by the pressure of the gas and air mixture for governing the action of said air-forcing device, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, of an air-met-er connected with said gas-meter to move in unison therewith, means for collect- -ing and mixing the gas leaving said gas-meter, and therair leaving said air-meter, a service-pipe into which the gas and air mixture IOOv IIO

is discharged, an air-forcing device, means for conducting the compressed air from said air-forcing device to said air-meter, and a device controlled by the pressure of the gas and air mixture for governing the action of said air-forcing device, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a gas-meter arranged to be connectedwith a gas-main, of an air-meter connected positively to operate in unison with said gas-meter, a service-pipe, an air-compressing device, means for conducting the compressed air therefrom to said airmeter, means for collecting and mixing the gas leaving said gas-meter and the air leaving said air-meter, means for conducting the gas and air mixture to said service-pipe, and a device controlled by the pressure within said service-pipe for governing the action of said air-forcing device, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with a gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, of an air-meter connected positively to operate in 5 unison with said gas-meter, a service-pipe, an air-compressing device, means for conducting the compressed air therefrom to said airmeter, a back-pressure valve arranged between said 'air-forcing device and said airnreter, means for collecting and mixing the gas leaving said gas-meter and the air leaving said air-meter, means for conducting the gas and air mixture to said service-pipe, and a device controlled by the pressure of the gas and air mixture for governing the action of said device, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with a gas-meter arranged to be connected, with a gas-main, of an air-meter connected positively to operate in unison with said gas-meter, a service-pipe, an air-forcing device, a storage vessel for receiving the compressed air, a back-pressure valve arranged between said air-forcing device and said storage vessel, means for conducting the compressed air from said storage vessel to said air-meter, means for collecting and mixing the gas leaving said gas-meter and the air leaving said air-meter, means for conducting the gas and air mixture to said service-pipe, and a device controlled by the pressure of the gas and air mixture for governing the action of said air-forcing device, substantially asset forth.

10. The combination with a gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, of an air-meter connected positively to operate in unison with said gas-meter, a service-pipe, an air-forcing device, a storage vessel, loaded lwith adjustable Weights, for receiving the crasse gas and air mixture for governing the action of said air-forcing device, substantially as set forth. Y

ll. The combination with a gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, of an air-meter connected positively to operate in unison with said gas-meter, a service-pipe, an air-forcing device, a storage vessel constructed as a bellows loaded with Weights, for receiving the compressed air, a back-pressure valve arranged between said air-forcing de; vice and said storage vessel, means for conducting t-he compressed air from said storage vessel to said air-meter, means for collecting and mixing the gas leaving said gas-meter and the air leaving said air-meter, means for conducting the gas and air mixture to said service-pipe, and a devicecontrolled by the pressure of the gas and air mixture for governing the action of said air-forcing device, substantially as set forth.

l2. The combination with a Wet gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, the drum of which meter is revolved by the gas introduced, of an air-meter of similar construction, the drum of which is connected with said gas-drum to move in unison therewith, a service-pipe into which both of said meters discharge, an air-forcing device for supplying a current of compressed air to said air-meter, so that the compressed air will regvolve the drum of same, and a device controlled by the pressure within said servicel pipe for governing the action of said air-forci ing device, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination with a wet gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, the drum of said meter being revolved by the gas introduced, of an air-meter of similar construction, the drum of which is connected with said gas-drum to move in unison therewith, means for collecting and mixing the gas leaving said gas-drum andthe air leaving said air-drum, a service-pipe into which the gas and air mixture is discharged, an airforcing device for supplying a current of air to said air-meter, so that the compressed air will revolve the drum of the same, and a device controlled by the pressure of the gas and air mixture for governing the action of said air-forcing device, substantially as s et forth.

14. The combination with a Wet gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, the drum ofwhich is revolved by the gas introduced, of an air-meter of similar construction, the drum of which is connected with said gas-drum to move in unison therewith, while both drums are inclosed in a common casing, the space inside which above the liquid-level serves for collecting and mixing the gas and the air leaving the two drums, a service-pipe into which the gas and air mixture is discharged, an air-forcing device for supplying a current of air to said air-drum, so that the same will be revolved by the compressed air, and a device controlled by the pressure of the IIO err/,699

gas and air mixture discharged, for `governinclosed in the casing of said gas-meter and ing the operation of said air-forcing device, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with a wet gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, the drum of which` is revolved by the gas introduced, of an air-drum of similar construction inclosed in the casing of said gas-meter and connected with` said gas-drum to move in unison, the space above the liquid-level serving for collecting and mixing the gas and the air leaving the two drums, aservice-pipe into which the gas and air mixture is discharged, an air-forcing device, means for conducting the compressed air therefrom to said airdrum, a back-pressure valve arranged between said air-forcing device and said airdrum, and a device controlled by the pressure of the gas and air mixture discharged, for governing the action of said air-forcing device, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination with a wet gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, the drum of which is revolved by the gas introduced, of an air-drum of similar construction inclosed in the casing of said gas-meter and connected with said gas-drum to move in unison, the space above the liquid-level serving for collecting and mixing the gas and the air leaving the two drums, a service-pipe into which the gas and air mixture is discharged, an air-forcing device, astorage vessel for receiving the compressed air, a backpressure valve arranged between said airforcing device and said storage vessel, means for conductingthe compressed air from said storage vessel to said air-d rum, which will be thereby revolved, and a device controlled by the pressure of the gas and air mixture discharged, for governing the action of said airforcing device, substantially as set forth.

` 17. The combination with a wet gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, the drum of which is revolved by the gas introduced, of an air-drum of similar construction inclosed in the casing of said gas-meter and connected with said gas-drum to move in u nison therewith, the space above the liquidlevel serving for collecting and mixing the gas and the air leaving the two drums, a service-pipe into which the gas and air mixture is discharged, an air-forcing device, a storage vessel constructed as a bellows loaded with weights for receiving the compressed air, a back-pressure valve arranged between said air-forcing device and said storage ves-v sel, means for conducting the compressed air from said storage vessel to said air-drum, which will be thereby revolved, and a device controlled by the pressure of the gas and air mixture discharged, for governing the action ot' said air-forcing device, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination with a wet gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, the drum of which is revolved by the gas introduced, of an air-dru m of similar construction coupled to its drum bya shaft common to them, the space above the liquid-level serving for collecting and mixing the gas and the air leaving the two drums, aservice-pipe into which the gas and air mixture is discharged, a bellows sucking in and compressing air, means for actuating said bellows, means for conducting the compressed air from said bellows to said air-drum which will be thereby revolved, a back-pressu re valve arranged between said air sucking and compressing bellows and said air-drum, and a device controlled by the pressure ot' the gas and'a'ir mixture discharged for governing the action of said bellows, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination with a wet gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, the drum of which is revolved by the gas introduced, of an air-drum of similar construction inclosed in the casing of said gas-meter and coupled to its drum by a shaft common to them, the space above the liquid-level serving for collecting and mixing the gas and the air leaving the two drums, a service-pipe into which the gas and air mixture is discharged, a pair 'of bellows sucking in and compressing air, means for actuating said pair of bellows, means for conducting the compressed air from said pair of bellows to said air-drum, which will be thereby revolved, a back-pressure valve arranged between said pair of air sucking and compressing bellows and said airdrum, and a device controlled by the pressure of the gas and air mixture discharged for governing the action of said pair of bellows, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination with a wet gas-meter arranged to be connected with agas-main, the drum of which is revolved by the gas introduced, of an air-drum of similar construction inclosed in the casing of said gas-meter and coupled to its drum by a shaft common to them, the space above the liquid-level serving for collecting and mixing the gas and the air leaving the two drums, a service-pipe into which the gas and air mixture is discharged, a bellows sucking in and compressing air, means for actuating said bellows, a storage vessel receiving the compressed air and constructed as a bellows loaded with weights, a back-pressure valve arranged between said air sucking and compressing bellows and said storage vessel, means for conducting the compressed air from said storage vessel to said air-drum, which will be thereby revolved, and a device controlled by the pressure of the gas and air mixture discharged, for governing the action of said bellows, substantially as set forth.

2l. The combination with a wet gas-meter arranged to be connected with a gas-main, the drum of which is revolved by the gas introduced, of an air-drum of similar construction inclosed in the casing ot' said gas-meter and coupled to its drum by a shaft common to them, the space above the liquid-level serv- IOO IIO

ing for collecting and mixing the gas and the air leaving the two drums, a service-pipe into which the gas and air mixture is discharged, a pair of bellows sucking in and compressing air, means for actuating said pair of bellows, a storage vessel connected therewith for receiving the compressed air and constructed as a bellows loaded with Weights, a back-pressure valve arranged between said pair of bellows and said storage vessel, means for conducting the compressed air from said storage vessel to said air-drum, which will be thereby revolved, and a device controlled by the pressure of the gas and air mixture discharged, for governing the action of said pair of bellows, substantially as set forth.

22. The combination of a gas-feed device and an air-feed device connected to move in unison and each having an independent inlet, and a service-pipe into which both of said devices discharge, with an air-forcing device for supplying a current of air to the air-feed device to operate the same.

23. The combination of a gas-feed device and an air-feed device'connected to move in unison, and a service-pipe into which both of said devices discharge, with an air-forcing device for supplying acurrent of air tothe airfeed device to operate the same, a mechanism for driving said air-forcing device, and mechanism, controlled by the pressure within the said pipe, and operatively connected with said driving mechanism to govern the action thereof.

24. The combination of a gas-feed device and an air-feed device connected to move in unison, with an air-forcing device for supplying a current of air to the air-feed device to operate the same, a mechanism for driving said air-forcing device, and a speed-changing -device for said driving mechanism, controlled by the pressure within the said pipe.

' GUSTAV RAAF.

l/Vitnesses:

HENRY HAsPER, kE. L. GOLDSCHMIDT. 

